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GOLD COAST, Australia, Nov 6 - U.S. Masters champion Adam Scott believes OneAsia offers the region’s professionals a great opportunity to get onto the world stage, saying there is little difference between those plying their trade in the Asia-Pacific and those on the European or U.S. PGA Tours.

The world number two and main draw at this week’s Australian PGA Championship, presented by Coca-Cola, said a few good tournaments on OneAsia could open the doors to an unprecedented global career.

“If you're a professional golfer, there's a fine line between the 1,000th best player in the world and the 10th best player in the world,” Scott said ahead of the A$1.25 million OneAsia tournament at the RACV Royal Pines resort golf course on Australia’s Gold Coast from Nov 7 - 10.

“I'd tell anyone playing in this event, or OneAsia anywhere else, that there's an opportunity every week for them and whether they have to win one or three events just to get that break, there are those opportunities there now. It's not as far away as they think, it really isn’t.”

Scott grew up on the Gold Coast and is the centre of attention this week on his first return home since winning the Masters in April. Although he could command millions more to play abroad, he will start four tournaments in-a-row “Down Under” - including OneAsia’s Emirates Australian Open at the end of the month - as a way of giving back to the country where he learnt the game.

“I wanted to come home straight away after winning, but thought if I come home and start celebrating I might not make it back,” he said.

“I don't want to waste this year just with winning the Masters and resting on my laurels a little bit and letting things slip. I wanted to take advantage of the confidence and the momentum and see how far I could push myself. It could have quite easily been a two- or three-Major win year. I was close again at the Open and I was hanging around all weekend at the PGA and just didn't quite get over the ine.

“I was pleased I did that, but I've been excited to get home ever since."

Scott has been given the keys to Gold Coast City, awarded “The Don” by Sport Australia’s Hall of Fame as the athlete who did the most for the country in 2013 and is credited with sparking interest in the game at home the like of which hasn’t been seen since Greg Norman was in his prime.

But Scott still feels he has unfinished business, having never won the Australian PGA Championship.

“I think this is the most important event for me down here in Australia. It's the one I haven't won and it would be a great week to do it at a new venue here at Royal Pines, which is somewhat a home game for me,” he said.

“I'm excited about this week. I really want to play well and give myself the best chance I can to be competitive. I like where my game's at, so we'll see what the next few days throw up.”

With American world number nine Brandt Snedeker a late withdrawal after injuring a knee in a Segway accident, Scott’s biggest challenge is likely to come from another U.S. PGA Tour star, Rickie Fowler.

But there are plenty of lean and ambitious OneAsia stars determined to make their mark, just as unheralded rookie Daniel Popovic showed last year when he stunned a classy field to win by four strokes. Popovic parlayed that victory into starts at two World Golf Championships tournaments in the U.S. and China as well as invitations to several European Tour events, but struggled to match that breakthrough performance.

“Someone who really wants it badly enough this week, next week (at the Australian Masters) and at the Australian Open could have three great weeks and find themselves in the World Golf Championship in Akron next year — and I think that's a fabulous opportunity,” Scott said.

“There are opportunities now out of all these tournaments to get your break and get to America or get to Europe or wherever you might want to be — even to OneAsia to get out of Australia.”

The debonair multi-millionaire has literally taken his green jacket on the road with him since his Augusta triumph, winning new friends and fans with self-effacing stories about the coveted garment and how he likes to try it on even when home alone.

“I’ve taken it everywhere with me. I think there's been two weeks I haven't had it with me,” he said. “It's just been the greatest thing to come back to a hotel room even or your house every day, and the green jacket's there in the closet. It's pretty surreal.

“I was saying last night that often I walk past the closet and if it's just hanging there I just don't mind slipping it on to wear it around the house for a little bit.”

With most of the field this week a friend, would he let one of his mates try it on for size?

“No, no-one's really allowed to wear the green jacket … that's the official answer,” he laughed.

Both this week’s Australian PGA Championship, presented by Coca-Cola, and the Emirates Australian Open from November 28 - December 1 are co-sanctioned by OneAsia and the PGA Tour of Australasia.

About OneAsia OneAsia is a non-profit organisation developed to maximize tournament opportunities for the best players in the Asia-Pacific region. The founding members of OneAsia are the China Golf Association, the Korea Golf Tour, the Korea Golf Association and the PGA of Australia. Our elite suite of tournaments includes the national Opens of Australia, China, Korea and Thailand, as well as numerous other prestigious events.